Out now on dvd/blu-ray
The People's Reviews
Rating:
35 ratings and 37 reviews
just great
We know about Ducks, and every thing that goes with them.
There is nothing wrong with this Trailer, 5 Star
WE have watched 5 times ,Looking forward to Movie
Trailer is awesome!
AND it has a Sikh dude in it! Can't wait to watch it although it seems fairly predictable.
I hate to say it but...
This was really bad. Just simply amateur a lot of the time. Bad acting, obvious script, cliche story, very few laughs. Boring. Sally Hawkins is great though. Rhys is okay, but he has the most dull character to play. But it really just shows up how amateur virtually everything else about this film is. You just simply can't get involved with the story.
It was kinda cute to have bad acting and mistakes in Second Hand Wedding, because it was forgiveable and almost endearing. Here, it's just cringeworthy. I just don't understand how it happened.
The duck hardly even does anything. May as well not have even been in there.
Oh yeah, and 32 shots of the Auckland Harbour Bridge and Sky Tower has to be the WORST, MOST OBVIOUS way to bring out the character of Auckland City. Hell, Shortland Street does it better.
Really, really disappointing.
quack
Saw this yesterday, and I was terribly let down. I can imagine how someone thought the idea of using a duck, as comic device would make for a fresh and funny movie, but in the end it was weak crutch that made an even weaker script a hard watch - and even worse it never made me laugh.
Darby is a good character actor, but he doesn't have the screen presence to have a career as a leading man. It hasn't happened for him in Hollywood, and after seeing this is sure as hell won't be happening now.
It's been a bad year for NZ films with one flop after another and unfortunately "Love Birds" will just be added to the list.
Where has all the talent gone? We need another Taika!
Review
Hmm... rereading that review I seemed a little harsh. Sorry :/ Did give it 2 stars instead of 1 at least...
Save your money!
I agree with JJ. All accept for 2 stars. Went to the premiere and no one around us was laughing. Dull script which just has loads and loads of talk. Terrible acting - especially the kid. I can't understand how we can make a movie like Boy and then turn out a souless piece of junk like this. Save your money.
Could have been better
This was just such a bad movie. Whole thing. Awful. If the actors had not been sitting right behind me I would have left after 10 minutes. Best part of the movie is the lip sinking during the credits.
Quaaaaack!
Nice home grown feel. Enjoyable gentle humour and feel good. The low key style worked for us. Enjoyed on Valentines day.
Loving Love Birds!
Weird Reviews!!! Watched this last night... I Loved this movie and the WHOLE cinema was erupting into Laughter at times with plenty of laughs the whole way through, not sure where the people were sitting who weren't laughing?
Was unsure how Ryse would come across playing a leading man in a more serious role but we think he did a great job, funny and believable.
Well worth a watch, great Kiwi film!
Awesome!!!
The most entertaining NZ film I have seen to date.
Rhys Darby filled the lead role well, as a believable average kiwi bloke, with the script providing plenty of laughs.
A must see!
Proud to be a kiwi...
As a kiwi and avid movie goer who has spent last few years in the States I wasn't expecting much from the Lovebirds. But unlike some of the reviewers I laughed my way through it. Not to mention being moved by the simple love story. Thought the Lovebirds had all the goods. Great characters even the duck, good story, loved the music and show cased Auckland city scenery as being world class. Enjoy this one kiwis. Well done...
hmmm...something smells fishy
so we get four peoples reviews panning LOVE BIRDS, then all of a sudden-boom! a four star and a FIVE STAR (i.e. an unassailable classic cinema masterpiece)review. Its pretty obvious that either the filmakers or the distributor are trolling the board, panicking at the honest reviews.
Saw LOVE BIRDS last night, the valentines day aud desperately wanted to enjoy it, they were behind it, but the encouraging initial giggles vanished once the triteness of the film kicked in. Its weak, flat, try-hard, doesnt work as a rom-com. its got zero flavor- like its aimed at a bland international market of tv sales. there was a silent, tired collective sigh of 'at last-lets go' from the aud once the end credits started.
(hey, 'k'..i'd love to know the location of the cinema where the entire aud was ERUPTING into laughter throughout. Seriously, which town? cinema?)
I enjoyed it
Not much of a Rhys Darby fan - but really enjoyed this movie. I am a big Queen fan so I really loved the music!
An independent and honest opinion...We LOVED IT!
Honestly, the people who gave "Love Birds" negative reviews urgently need a prescription of happy pills!! My boyfriend & I attended the St Valentines Day preview at the Rialto in Newmarket, and we LOVED the movie (FYI - I paid for the tickets so my opinion is completely independent). The event was well run and the nearly-capacity crowd all stayed on and enjoyed the Q/A with Rhys Darby afterwards. Yes, there was also much laughter in the theatre and an ovation at the end of the movie! "Love Birds" is a delightfully refreshing, humourous and lovingly crafted kiwi movie. Rhys also makes a gorgeously geeky leading man supported by an awesome cast! A must see and on my list of "best" NZ movies ever. Well done to all!
YAWN!
Went to a charity fundraiser featuring this film. If it wasnt for the couple of wines i had pre-movie i don't think i would have lasted. Weak story line, poor acting, dry humour... this is one for the oldies!
just not very entertaining, funny
I went to the same St Valentine's event, and I thought the crowd was pretty luke warm. So was I. Parts of it were really bad, the odd part was good, but the vast bulk was just 'blah'. Just really mundane. I was vaguely interested I guess, no where near entertained. Some parts were bad enough I just wanted to hide my face in my hands though. I guess the disagreements about it are a matter of taste, and I hope the film does well. It might do okay in NZ, but I really can't see it succeeding overseas. If you lower your expectations to rock bottom, you might find it to be alright. Rhys is good at points, but the script and the direction really let him down. I really can't understand how people could be giving it 5 star reviews, to be honest. Patriotism?
Lovebirds - great Kiwi flick!
I went to the Valentines Day preview of Lovebirds at the Rialto with my 16 year daughter and her friend. The movie was great! A feel-good, all Kiwi movie, great music, simple but enjoyable story line, one where you came away smiling. Lots of laughter, it was great to be in a theatre full of people laughing. Auckland was showcased as the beautiful city that it is. Enjoyable Q & A with Rhys Darby after. I'll be recommending this movie to friends!
Good one Rhys, and Pierre, you rock!
OK
Love Turds
Years ago my boyfriend and I went to an advance screening of Stickmen. It was great lots of laugher and action and a standing ovation at the end so when we saw this was writen by the same guy we went to the Valentines screening. I don't know what one you others saw but their wasn't any laughs or satnding ovation at ours. It was lame. The jokes were almost funny in parts but there was so much talking to the bird. what happened to the writer? time to retire. and BTW if I want to look at heaps of pretty pictures of Auckland I
'll by a postcard. some of these reviews are totally fake they sound like they're written by the studio. this is real. watch an episode of Go Girls it's pretty much the same. but funnier.
Loved!
My boyfriend and I went and saw this film on Valentines day, I found it very entertaining and throughly enjoyed the film!! Made me very proud to be a Kiwi and a Aucklander! :)
About time NZ made this film
I watched this film on Valentines Day with my gf and we both loved it. Rhys is great and while he is not 'Murray' in this film, he nonetheless had both of us hooked into the story enjoying his take on life and love in NZ.
The duck was classic, i have no idea how they trained it, but it was as flawless as one of those Disney animal films.
Looking at some of the negative reviews i wonder whether these people went to the same movie? (or if they are just the seriously jaded types) I want to a session in Newmarket and everyone loved it.
Overall, it is a gentle and subtle film about life and love in NZ. Well worth watching.
Classic Kiwi Chick Flick!!!!!
Finally a kiwi film that is not dark or depressing. Totally enjoyed it.
Go Rhys as well!!!! You make nerds sexy lol.....
The best Kiwi chick flick ever made!!
Good New Zealand film
I really enjoyed this film. If your a fan of fast paced or action then give it a miss. Good story, romantic comedy. has enough humour for the genre. for those expecting a laugh out loud comedy because of rhys, you will be disapointed, but he does a good job being an everyday man. A New Zealand film to be proud of. I look forward to seeing it again.
Slow start - but was enjoying thoroughly by the end
First up - great views of Auckland - good advertisement for NZ overseas! Not as funny as I had expected, but then it was good to see Rhys Darby playing a reasonably serious role - great acting all round really. I would recommend to others to see - good entertainment.
A good see.
I am 15 and i really loved this film. I didnt laugh at some of the jokes but the story line was very cute and harmless. I think you need to go into the film with a positive attitude and appreciation for New Zealand movies. They also had a good cast. :)
Queen? Then turn the Volume UP - and full throttle the pace!
Our mate Doug was a tad too Doug actually. A kiwi Queen fan just can't be that useless...wheres the air guitar scene...instead of dancing at the pub to Queen - why isn't it Queen Kareoke Night...forego the lipsynch at the end...and put all in as a Kareoke Comp instead of a Quiz Comp / dancing bit. A Quiz Comp? And wheres the sex scene? Hes a Queen fan dammit! Admittedly, hes face down on the bottom - with Sally Hawkins asleep draped beautifully atop - but hes a Queen fan - and thats funny - one shot: cool, sexy, funny, Queen. A film that had lots of potential, a co-production with Icon / Eyeworks / NZFC - it didn't lack for anything - 3 Stars because of its potential - next time, put the foot down - and bust the speakers - and sex - for two more stars...I mean to say if hes got a fuzzy duck and a beer - then he should lay an egg eh? Sorry Sally - premature film projection. Bye.
love birds, loved it
Rhys Darby is awesome, this film does make him very hot as well. It was an awesome funny film for NZ, i think everyone played there parts well in the movie. An Awesome film :-D
Terrible, don't waste your time
This film is slow, not funny and has no plausible storyline. A big disappointment.
Perfecto! For first dates
I saw this not only hours ago on my first date with a wonderful girl and it was amazing. We went to the Rialto and it turns out they weren't screening the movie we wanted to see so we went to Hoytz but we didn't want to see any of the films that were on, so we comprimised to watching this film back at the Rialto.. I must say it was great for a first date film because it really gets into what relationships are and what it may end up like.
There were really happy moments, some funny moments and some very sad ones (to which she cried to) and it was just the bee's knees (whatever that means). They even used at least 4 different Queen's songs who we both loved. I thought this film would be like those American Rom-coms but it was truly different as their was a duck and the good spirit of kiwi stereotype.
It was awkward as he meets a girl and they go on first dates and end up kissing, which made me feel uneasy just cause it was our first date and I like her and she likes me.. It could almost seem like a good thing, the awkwardness, maybe an ice-breaker. Brilliant acting and screen play.
Unfortunately I was too shy to put my arm around her in those really emotional scenes.. :(
Worth a watch to make you happy
Don't take it seriously. Rhys Darby as a normal person(with a good haircut) is beaten to the MVP of the movie by Sophie Hawkins. Auckland looks good in the aerial shots and anything that provokes a laugh is worth catching
just not that funny
Sally Hawkins is good. Sound track is good. And yes, Auckland looks pretty good too. But the script is just not that strong and funny moments were few and far between. We were somewhat bored.
Rhys Darby Rocks!
I didn't know what to expect when I heard this was a Kiwi film - but GOSH it was brilliant! Very funny depiction of the typical Kiwi life, and the quirky role of the duck just made it ten times better. The small details were amazing, like all of the Queen songs interspersed at relevant intervals, and all the little things that makes us Kiwi :) Very funny, much better than your average Chick Flick!
I liked it!
Just saw it today, started slowly but finished strongly. Would recommend :)
good light-hearted fun
great acting from rhys darby and sally hawkins...beautiful nz movie
Great to see Kiwi films
You wont see Rhys being his over the top silly self but another well told Kiwi film with lots of good laughs and the duck is a brilliant actor bravo
Funny!
Awesome kiwi movie, very funny and great acting from Rhys Darby.
Nice!
Great NZ film. Enjoyed the movie.
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